The governing body for athletics in Britain, along with a sports official, has entered a plea of not guilty to manslaughter charges following the tragic death of Paralympic athlete Abdullah Hayayei. The 36-year-old competitor, who represented the United Arab Emirates, suffered a fatal injury when a metal pole struck him during training at the Newham Leisure Centre in east London on 11 July 2017. His untimely death was confirmed at the scene.
Hayayei was preparing for the F34 class discus, javelin, and shot put events ahead of the world para athletics championships in London when the incident occurred, involving a part of a throwing cage.
Keith Davies, identified as the head of sport for the 2017 World Paralympic Athletics Championships, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a related health and safety offence, as reported by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service earlier this year. UK Athletics also faces charges of corporate manslaughter and a health and safety violation.
An upcoming trial is set to commence on 12 October 2026, spanning an expected duration of eight weeks, as the case continues to draw attention regarding athlete safety and organisational responsibility in sports.